Thank you, residents and interns, for all you do for one another and for your patients. Though often under-appreciated, your work does not go unnoticed.
Help us highlight the kindness, clinical judgement, resourcefulness, and work ethic.
Nominate a resident/intern for Housestaff of the month or just share something good.
Inpatient Intern of the Month
Dr. Maria Van Berkum
Though Alex and Maria were my interns for only a week, I was extremely impressed with how they handled a very busy and sick CCU. It was their last week, and while it might have been easy to check out from burnout / exhaustion, it was very apparent they were putting forth their full and best effort each day. Their clinical acumen, presentations, efficiency, communication skills, and attention to detail were all excellent (operating at a level far above what I would expect from someone this far along in their training), but I was much more impressed by the empathy and kindness they showed their patients. Both quickly built rapport and trust with their patients, facilitating multiple taxing goals of care conversations and navigating challenging family dynamics throughout the week.
Two particular examples that stood out were Maria’s advocacy for a vulnerable patient that other services were starting to write off and Alex juggling 3 simultaneous goals of care situations for very sick patients, ultimately leading to comfort care that respected their wishes. They were dependable, adept at tackling new and challenging situations, and had my full trust in all things related to patient care. This was not only apparent to me, but the whole unit recognized it as well (from conversation with the attending, fellow, and comments from the nurses). Their care is exemplary and they are already well on their way in developing into outstanding physicians.
Inpatient Intern of the Month
Dr. Alexandra Taylor
Though Alex and Maria were my interns for only a week, I was extremely impressed with how they handled a very busy and sick CCU. It was their last week, and while it might have been easy to check out from burnout / exhaustion, it was very apparent they were putting forth their full and best effort each day. Their clinical acumen, presentations, efficiency, communication skills, and attention to detail were all excellent (operating at a level far above what I would expect from someone this far along in their training), but I was much more impressed by the empathy and kindness they showed their patients. Both quickly built rapport and trust with their patients, facilitating multiple taxing goals of care conversations and navigating challenging family dynamics throughout the week.
Two particular examples that stood out were Maria’s advocacy for a vulnerable patient that other services were starting to write off and Alex juggling 3 simultaneous goals of care situations for very sick patients, ultimately leading to comfort care that respected their wishes. They were dependable, adept at tackling new and challenging situations, and had my full trust in all things related to patient care. This was not only apparent to me, but the whole unit recognized it as well (from conversation with the attending, fellow, and comments from the nurses). Their care is exemplary and they are already well on their way in developing into outstanding physicians.
Inpatient Intern of the Month
Dr. Serena Tolani
Serena is a hardworking, thorough, and caring physician. She maintained a sense of curiosity during her MICU rotation, which allowed her to better understand her patients’ complex problems, and, in doing so, fostered discussions and learning with our entire team. I would also like to recognize her dedication to her patients and the relationships she fostered with them so that they and their families trusted her.
Dr. Tolani is one of the best interns I have ever worked with. She excels clinically and is always thinking critically about her patients, going out of her way to understand every illness her patients have. She consistently tries to learn not only from her own patients, but also from her co-intern’s patients as well. From the way she enthusiastically taught medical students to the way she would lead some ACTs, I could tell that she was excited to be doing inpatient medicine.
Inpatient Resident of the Month
Dr. Harrison Lancaster
Dr Lancaster excelled in many, many ways. He has an impressively broad knowledge of cardiology, which he drew from to provide frequent and highly applicable clinical teaching points to the team on topics ranging from EKGs to medication management and cardiac amyloid workup. He also recognized and set in motion appropriate management for two very acute patients; one patient while Dr Lancaster was res-interning, and the other, an overnight admission, before rounds had started. He consistently and exemplarily led the team and balanced the difficult task of knowing all the patients very well while empowering the interns to be the main point person
Dr. Harrison Lancaster is a superb senior resident in the CCU, and I would like to extend my sincerest commendation for his unparalleled dedication and exceptional contributions. He is not only remarkably knowledgeable, far beyond the typical level of a third-year resident, but also incredibly patient. He consistently goes above and beyond to impart his expertise to his interns, creating an environment that is both enriching and supportive. We were never hesitant to seek his guidance on medical decisions because he always took the time to offer clear explanations with patience and understanding. His commitment to education and mentorship is both inspiring and invaluable to our team. In addition to his professional acumen, Dr. Lancaster possesses a deep sense of empathy that resonates with patients and their families. His ability to provide compassionate care significantly improved patient experiences and outcomes. For instance, during a particularly challenging case, he offered the patient and their family unwavering support which greatly alleviated their anxiety. He never failed to provide comfort and reassurance during difficult times, and was always available to teach us, such as when he guided us through how to approach a family’s difficult decision about end-of-life care. What also sets him apart is his remarkable rapport, not just with patients and families, but with other providers, including consultants, nurses, attending physicians, and fellows. Dr. Lancaster is an exceptional physician whose contributions have fostered strong, respectful relationships, enhancing our teamwork and creating an enriching working environment. His dedication, compassion, and excellence exemplify the best in healthcare professionals, and I am very fortunate to have worked with and learned from such an outstanding physician during my time in the CCU. Any cardiology fellowship program in the country would be lucky to have him!
Inpatient Resident of the Month
Dr. Daniel Arroyo-Ariza
Med 1 nursing staff: I just want to recognize one of your residents on behalf of our nurses, Arthur. This nurse stated that Dr. Daniel Ariza (med1 blue) was very attentive to the staff and patient needs for patient 74A. He said that Dr. Ariza came to the bedside over 5x to check in on staff concerns and even came up after the cross cover had begun coverage. Arthur said that he truly appreciated that this physician went above and beyond for the patient and the staff!